Share The Post

A 19-year-old university student from Cradley Heath, in the British West Midlands, is hoping he can garner support from local school travel companies for his planned volunteer trip to Africa over the summer.

Christian Kemp plans to spend the summer months in South Africa, raising awareness about AIDS amongst the local population, as well as tackling the issue of poverty in townships, which continues to be a major problem in that country.

To raise funds for this endeavour, the student and a group of friends have taken it upon themselves to organise a charity fun-run. The group will be donning fancy dress to run from a nearby shopping centre to the neighbouring town of Stourbridge on the 29th of this month.

Despite hoping for sponsorships from school travel companies, Kemp already has a way into this dream project. The Bournville College student has been awarded a place in an international programme devised by the government-funded International Citizen Service, which will help him with transportation and accommodation for his journey to South Africa. This initiative is also being partially sponsored by a local charity, where Christian will work once he arrives in Africa.

Once his period volunteering abroad is completed, Kemp will be asked to undertake a similar programme in the United Kingdom, called an Action at Home Project. The objective of this initiative is to ensure that the competencies he acquires during his period of volunteer work abroad can be put to use in local communities within the British Isles as well.

Kemp has considered this opportunity an excellent way of getting to work alongside people from different cultures, as well as to fight poverty and make a difference. Speaking to a local paper, the youth was understandably excited about undertaking this new project.

Volunteer work continues to be one of the most popular types of programmes offered by school travel companies, and entices hundreds of youths each year.

About Equity School Travel:

Equity School Travel offers educational trips worldwide, with a wide variety of subject matters. Find them at www.equity.co.uk .